It’s official Russ leaves SoCalMLS for top spot at MRED

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2010

Contact: Russ Bergeron, SoCalMLS

714-517-2626

e-mail: info@socalmls.com

Midwest Real Estate Data Lands New CEO

Lisle, IL (April 16) – Midwest Real Estate Data LLC (MRED), the Chicagoland Multiple Listing Service serving nearly 40,000 real estate professionals, announced today that Russ Bergeron will be assuming the role of Chief Executive Officer at the end of May.

Mr. Bergeron comes to MRED from Southern California Multiple Listing Service where he has been CEO since its formation in 1993. As head of the largest MLS in the state of California and second largest in the nation, he is known throughout the world for his leadership in bringing technological advances to the multiple listing industry. In recognition of his leadership and innovation, he was named one of the 100 Most Influential Leaders in Real Estate for 2009 by Inman News.

MRED, formed by the merger of two powerful MLSs in the Chicago area, is looking to create an MLS that serves the needs of their customers today and well into the future by enhancing its products and services to meet the ever-changing demands of today’s real estate practitioner.

“One of our goals at MRED is to become the source for real estate data throughout the Chicagoland and beyond.” said Dean Rouso, Broker/Owner of Prime Property Partners in La Grange, IL and MRED President.  “With Mr. Bergeron on board, MRED will be in experienced and talented hands. We look forward to working with him to bring the highest level of service and technology to our members.”

Mr. Bergeron brings to MRED over forty years experience in technical management and leadership in high growth, high technology, computer-based services. He is recognized as a pioneer in the movement to place real estate listings on the Internet for which he won the Inman Innovator Award in 1998.

Many years ago, he began promoting his idea of one large database for all to access thereby eliminating the need for members to join multiple MLSs. His vision became the groundwork for California Real Estate Technology Services, or CARETS, the largest MLS data aggregation of its kind in the country.  Currently CARETS is made up of seven MLSs in Southern California providing real time access to nearly 4 million listings for over 100,000 real estate practitioners, and CARETS shows no signs of slowing down.

Prior to the formation of SoCalMLS, Mr. Bergeron was deeply involved in all aspects of real estate data and the MLS industry including directing the real estate data acquisition operation for TRW/REDI and heading several departments at PRC (now First American MarketLinx)  including publishing, product development and management, and systems installations.

“I am truly looking forward to coming to Chicago to take on the challenge of making MRED the best MLS possible.” said Bergeron. “MRED is well established with a great staff in place.  This will enable us to hit the ground running as we improve upon an already successful organization. These are exciting times for our industry – new technologies and applications surface every day, and with the guidance of the Board of Managers, it will be my job to bring the best services and tools to our subscribers and associations. I appreciate the opportunity that has been given me.”

About MRED: Created through the consolidation of the Multiple Listing Service of Northern Illinois (MLSNI) and MAP Multiple Listing Service, Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) is one of the largest MLSs in the country, serving nearly 40,000 real estate practitioners, from 14 Boards/Association of REALTORS®. MRED has a unique hybrid structure of REALTOR® Association economic interest combined with broker ownership and control. The creation of one data aggregation and distribution entity covering the Chicagoland has proven to be a huge benefit to brokers and agents. MRED has always been a leader in the industry, priding itself on delivering state of the art technology solutions to its users, which in turn allows them to assist the general public in the buying and selling of real estate.

About SoCalMLS: For 17 years SoCalMLS, the second largest MLS in the United States, has prided itself on a record of outstanding customer service while supporting a vast array of products and services to as many as 55,000 real estate professionals throughout the Southland, earning itself the reputation as the preferred provider of real estate information technology services. For more information please visit news.SoCalMLS.com or e-mail info@SoCalMLS.com.